Faith and Assurance
(John 1:1–5)

1Now faith is the confident expectation of things hoped for, and a conviction of things not seen: 2for by it the ancients obtained an honorable testimony.

3By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, for the things which are seen were not made of things which appear.

The Faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah

4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained the testimony that he was righteous, God bearing witness to his gifts: and by it, though dead, he yet speaketh. 5By faith Enoch was translated, that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him; for before his translation he had this testimony that he pleased God: 6whereas without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe, that He is, and is the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. 7By faith Noah being warned by God of things which were not yet seen, moved with pious fear, prepared an ark for the safety of his family; whereby he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

The Faith of Abraham and Sarah
(Romans 4:1–12)

8By faith Abraham when called to go out to a place which he was afterwards to receive for an inheritance obeyed: and went out, though he knew not whither he was going. 9By faith he sojourned in the land promised him, as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob the heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose maker and founder is God. 11By faith also Sarah received strength to conceive seed, and brought forth a son when she was past age, because she accounted Him faithful who had promised. 12So that there descended even from one, and him in a manner dead, a posterity like the stars of heaven for multitude, and as the sand on the sea shore, innumerable.

13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but seen them from afar, and been persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and sojourners on the earth. 14Now they that say such things shew plainly that they are seeking their own country: 15and if they had been mindful of that from which they came, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16But they desire a better, that is, an heavenly one; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He hath prepared for them a city.

17By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he who had received the promises, offered up his only son; 18of whom it was told him, that in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19concluding that God was able to raise him even from the dead; from whence indeed he had in a manner received him.

The Faith of Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph

20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things future. 21By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped leaning on the top of his staff. 22By faith Joseph when he died, mentioned the departure of the children of Israel and gave a charge concerning his bones.

The Faith of Moses
(Acts 7:20–22)

23By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a fine child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. 24By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to have the temporary enjoyment of sin: 26esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he looked to the recompence of reward. 27By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he continued firm as seeing Him who is invisible. 28By faith he observed the passover and sprinkling of the blood, that he, who destroyed the first-born of the Egyptians, might not touch them. 29By faith they passed through the Red-sea, as by dry land, which the Egyptians attempting to do were drowned.

The Faith of Many

30By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been encompassed seven days.

31By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with the unbelievers, having received the spies with peace.

32And what need I say more? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and Barak, and Sampson, and Jephthah, and David, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33who by faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made powerful, became strong in battle, and turned to flight the armies of their enemies. 35Women received their dead raised to life again; and others were tortured to death, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. 36And others had the trial of mockings and scourgings, and of bonds too and imprisonment. 37They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain by the sword: they went about in sheep-skins, and goat-skins, being destitute, afflicted, 38distressed, (of whom the world was not worthy) wandering in deserts, and mountains, and dens, and caves of the earth.

39And these all, though they obtained an honorable testimony by faith, yet received not the promise; 40God having provided something better concerning us, that without us they might not be made perfect.